My afternoon with a Tuskegee Airman

Dr. Dempsey Morgan is also a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Skee-Phi!

I believe we use the term “hero” too loosely these days.  Have you really ever stopped to think about what that word means? Websters defines a hero as:

A man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.

When I think of Lt. Dempsey Morgan, I can’t think of a more fitting word to describe him. (Click here to see the story.)

I was so excited to learn that one of the country’s few living Tuskegee Airmen lives in Salem, Virginia.  I discovered this information, the week after seeing the movie “Red Tails”.  (If you don’t see any other movie this year, make seeing this one a priority.)

History, has taught us very little about the country’s most elite African American aviators.  It may have been a paragraph in my high school history book.

Lt. Morgan, was one of the original. Now, 92, he is still very sharp.  He remembers how many missions he flew, how many German plans he shot down in WWII.  I admire his courage to take on such a meaningful endeavor at a time when blacks in the military (and outside of the military) were thought of as second class citizens.  Even still, he put his country first like so many other blacks during that time.

He had hoped to stay in the military until it was desegregated but didn’t get that chance.

As I said, I admire his courage, but I also admire his intellect.  First, if you know anything about this airmen group, you know they were the best and the brightest.  But Dr. Morgan in particular had an impressive resume before he began to fly.  He’d already been to two universities by the time he was 20 and if you count West Point Military Academy, that makes three Higher Ed schools (but who’s counting).

Lt. Morgan has gone on to work with NASA and earned a PhD.  He’s also taught for 38 years in Asia and Africa in the field of physics and chemistry.

Our country is better because of men like him.  I’m just so grateful I got a chance to thank him myself.

I Don’t Do Cats, But Bears…

Yes.  It is a real bear.  That’s the first thing I thought too.  Reporters never really know what to expect when they go out on an interview – to someone’s house no less.  When I walked into this particular house, I didn’t realize my eyes could get so big. The man who lives here is a hunter (duh – you say).  His collection is out of this world or maybe I should say country.  Not only does he hunt out West, he also travels to other countries.  Normally, I think I’d be freaked out by all of the animal heads on the wall and let me tell you, there were tons!  I had never seen a lot of these animals before and I definitely wouldn’t want to meet face-to-face with them if they were alive.

Best Dressed, Most Congenial… News7 Superlatives

So we are way past the days of Yearbooks here at News7, but our production department simply couldn’t resist coming up with their own version of “BEST OF” here at News7.  Enjoy and Happy New Year!

MOST LIKELY TO STOP CHATTING AT THE LAST SECOND BEFORE WE GO ON AIR:   -Male:  Jay Webb      – Female: Jean Jadhon

BEST STAND-UPS:   -Justin McLeod

MOST LIKELY TO LAUGH AT ANYTHING:   – Holly Pietrzak

MOST WISE:   -Robin Reed

MOST COMICAL:-  Brent Watts

BEST AD-LIBBER:   -Male:  Chris Hurst           -Female: Susan Bahorich

MOST STYLISH:   -Hollani Davis

MOST ENERGETIC:   -Male:  Leo Hirsbrunner     Female: Melissa Gaona

MOST LIKELY TO SMILE ON AIR:   -Carl Deffenbaugh

MOST LIKELY TO GET CAUGHT ON YOU TUBE:   -Bob Grebe

MOST LIKELY TO SAY A NAME CORRECTLY:   -Kimberly McBroom

EYE CANDY:   -Male:  Seth Kovar                  -Female:  Melissa Gaona

MOST DEDICATED:   -Travis Wells

MOST LIKELY TO TWIRL HER HAIR DURING A COMMERCIAL:   -Karen Loftus

MOST LIKELY TO SPEND THEIR DAY IN A SMALL BLUE ROOM: -Male:  Justin Ward & Tim Saunders              – Female:  Karen Kiley

MR & MRS. NEWS7:   Male:  Joe Dashiell            – Female:  Jean Jadhon

Walk Toward the Light (but what if you can’t find it?)

Reality Check.  Christmas is officially 10 days away and I’m nowhere near close to having all of my shopping done.  That sound about right doesn’t it?  So many of you tell me you’re in the same boat.  But let me out due you if I may.

I have a Christmas tree (CHECK).  Decorations for the tree (PARTIALLY CHECKED.  Because I’m such a perfectionist, I keep adding things or thinking of things to make my tree better).  Oh and the real biggie, only half of my tree has LIGHTS!  Every store in Roanoke is out!  I learned that this past Saturday like a lot of you Roanokers.  We seemed to keep bumping into each other.  Walmart, CVS, Kroger, Lowe’s, Walgreens…no lights!  I saw one guy at Lowe’s, rushed over to a Walgreen’s  thinking I’d get a leg up…he beat me there!  And we were both out of luck.  No lights!  What’s the deal?  Stores say they just didn’t get a huge shipment of White Christmas Tree Lights this year.  One guy said they’ve been selling them since April.  For real?  If you think I’m going to start shopping for Christmas in April, you’re the crazy one.  Not to panic!  My sister lives 5 hours away.   She’s delivering some lights this weekend but they’re not the traditional white bulbs, they’re a little larger.  They’re the only ones left in the stores where she lived.  (Insert Sigh Here).

Another thing I’ve noticed through all of this Christmas madness, retailers aren’t giving out boxes this year.  I spend $50, $150 for clothes and can’t get a gift box?  I’m told it’s just not in the cards.  It was an easy way for businesses to cut expenses, meanwhile mine are climbing by the second!  (Insert Sigh Here).

Oh well, it’s all about the joy of the season!  I’m wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas.  And despite all the craziness, I still, very much remember, what this season is truly about!

New Years Resolution #1

Bedford resident Barbara Scott stakes out a street corner encouraging local citizens to buy American made products

So, I know I still have about a month to go, but this has been on my heart for the past few weeks.  I am really going to make more of an effort to start “Buying Local” or American made.  I was inspired last month when I did a story about a woman who was urging people in her community to shop at locally owned stores and/or buy local gifts for the Christmas holiday.  Then again today, another reporter did a story about another lady who is on a one-woman-crusade to encourage people to support the American economy.

I’ll be the first to admit, other than my food, buying local isn’t something I think about too much.  I’ve been impressed with the series “Made in America” on ABC World News with Diane Sawyer.  Through that, I’ve learned there are so many products like nails, beds and sheets that are Made in America.  You just have to look!  True, it may take a little more time to find and it might cost a few cents more; however, if we all did our part, how many people could we put to work here in our country where unemployment is a resounding 8.6%.?  I’m so tired of people blaming the President, Congress and even Wall Street for that matter.  While they all do share in the responsibility, so do we.  Why is it that we as individuals want to be so quick to pass the buck?

Let me be realistic.  I’m not going to buy only things made in this country, but I will do better.  I challenge you to do the same!